A group project, collaboraing with Level C and Level I students. Given a very open brief: Solve a problem to do with water. So our idea was to design a better outdoor table suited to a British climate (wet!).

 

Nobody likes sitting on an outdoor seat and getting a wet bum. It's a problem us Brits and anyone else who lives in a place that seems to rain constantly will understand well. So our sollution was to design a table that would not allow water to rest on top. Essentially, when it gets rained on the water passes straight through to the ground.

The first key design element is the table and seat surface. With lots of small cutouts leaving minimal surface area for water to rest on. These surfaces would then be given a superhydrophobic treatment, replicating the surface of the lotus plant. When water lands on a superhydrophobic surface, it forms a bead and rolls off.

The second key design feature is the way the top surface is designed. Having lots of holes in the table top could pose a problem when there are legs and bags etc underneath. Things you don't want water dripping on to... so the table top has a trough like feature underneath. Water collects here, then drops through holes on either side of the tables leg supports. This 'trough' also increases the rigidity of the design.

The third key feature is the simple design of the product. It is essentially made from flat sections bolted together. Being made from flat sections means that all components can be CNC machined, so expensive injection moulding equipment is not necessary. The material of choice is recycled HIPS. Eco friendly and recycleable again at the end of the products life. Further advantages of the simple design are that it is possible to be flat packed and constructed on site, saving space and costs of transport. It also means that the product life can be extended by replacing individual components as they become worn out/ damaged, instead of replacing the entire table.

The table would be targeted at both individual consumers and larger compaies such as cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants. With it's eco appeal, functional design and longevity, the Lotus inspired table would be a great alternative to other traditional outdoor tables. Due to being entirely made from thermoplastic and CNC machined, it would be very easy to match colours to existing brands or modify the shapes to other company logos.